Jayapura`s Archeology Center has discovered the remnants of colonial-era artifacts and buildings such as churches, tombs and inscribed tablets in Wondama Bay district, West Papua province.

“The objects were found in two districts, namely Roon and Wasior,” a researcher at the center, Marlin Tolla, said to the press.

In Wasior district, the center found the ruins of building complexes built by the Dutch at three villages. In Mieias village researchers came across a complex of buildings housing a teachers` training school, in Manggurai village a leprosy hospital complex and in the Wasior region a residential housing complex, she said.

The concept applied to the building components in each complex was developed based on the needs, comfort and the situation or age by taking into account the cultural environment in which the structures s were built.

This was evidenced by the use of local materials such as sago leaf midribs (locally known as gaba-gaba) on semi-permanent and bamboo on permanent buildings. Besides that, there were other timber types in each building component, Marlin said.

Meanwhile, on the ornaments, the buildings showed European influences, especially the doors, windows with the ornaments use of bow and dome which were one of the styles found on Roman buildings.

“Yes, indeed the whole of the building components were developed based on the needs and the cultures. This was evident from the use of local materials such as sago and bamboo leaf midribs,” she said.

Marlin said, in the case of the leprosy hospital and church, there were two cultures that affected several components of the buildings such as the use of bow ornaments on the doors and the dome shape on the windows and tower.

Meanwhile, the local influence was the use of “Geelvink Bay” motifs, contained in the components of pole, pulpit and offerings box.

While at the school building complex, located in Miei village, the local influence can be found on the rhombus-shaped vents.

“This motif is found in the Meybrat tribe (in the Kepala Burung region) and Asmat (southern Papua),” Marlin said.

From the findings, the center will soon be listing a few buildings like Isna Jedi Church in Roon district and Leprosy Hospital Church, located in Manggurai village as well as the school complex in Miei village as cultural heritage sites.

Therefore, the administration can play a role in the re-design of buildings in Wasior post-flood some time ago, Marlin hoped.

At least, the administration pay attention to the colonial relics that exist in that places, considering the alignment between the face of heritage buildings and the new buildings that will be created, she added.

“It should be done considering Wasior City is an area where the officers and employee houses complexes are stood,” she said.

Wondama Bay district administration is also expected to make the area of teacher school located in Miei village as one of the region`s tourist area.

Marlin explained, the architecture is unique and located on hill Aitumeri which is one of the most beautiful locations in Wasior featuring ocean views and the beauty of the islands around it.